Locking envelope or the like



. eP 19471. T. E. WALSH- LOCKING ENVELOPE OR THE LIKE Filed Nov. 20, v 1945 mmvrox. THOMAS E. h/Iqzsza BY r ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 2, 1947 LOCKING ENVELOPE OR THE LIKE Thomas E. Walsh, Cohoes, N. Y., assignor to Cohoes Envelope Com a corporation of New 3 Claims.

My present invention relates to locking devices, and more particularly to locking devices for envelopes, or other fiat enclosures.

My improved locking device is intended to replace the present day envelope locking devices, such as metal clasps, twine and the like, which tend to become loose or to become entangled with other envelopes or closures. This is particularly true with regard to present day envelopes or clsures intended to be used to send letters, papers, or merchandise through the mails,

In carrying out my invention, I employ a looking device consisting of but two parts, both of which act as a reinforcing means for the envelope or closure iteslf, one of such parts, including the locking tongue, being attached to the envelope or closure in its entirety, while the other part, including the member that cooperates with the locking tongue, is attached to both the envelope or closure and to the closing flap of the envelope or closure.

The principal object of my invention therefore, is an improved locking device for envelopes and other like closures.

Another object of the invention is an improved locking device for envelopes and other like closures manufactured from sheet material, such as paper, in which there will be no parts'extending outwardly from the plane of such material when the device is in looking position.

Other objects and advantages of the device will appear as the description of the invention progresses.

In the accompanying drawing illustrating a preferred embodiment of my invention:

Figure l is a fragmentary perspective view at the open mouth of an envelope or other container equipped with locking means in accordance with my invention;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary elevation showing the closing flap on one wall portion of the envelope folded over upon the locking tongue of the opposite wall portion of the envelope, but prior to engaging said tongue in the locking opening of said flap;

Figure 3 is a view similar the parts interlocked, and

Figure 4 is a section on the line 44 of Fig, 3.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown an envelope or like container, comprising a portion In and a portion ll having formed therewith a closing flap or tab 12. The joining between the to Fig. 2, but showing portion H and the closing flap or tab I2 is along a weakened line 13.

Secured to the portion 10, on the face thereof pany, Inc., Cohoes, N. Y.,

York Application November 20, 1945, Serial No. 629,835

adjacent the portion H, is a reinforcing member [4 having cut therein and in portion ID a locking tongue l5. The locking tongue i5 is formed as shown in Figure 3, with curved members l6 extending laterally from the body of the tongue l5 and with rounding extensions ii at its upper end. The tongue l5 may b flexed, relative to member i 4, along the dotted line I 8.

Secured to the portion 1 l and the tab or closure flap l2, and on the face thereof adjacent the portion I0, is a reinforcement l9. n t s re nfo cement l9, and in the portion in engagement with the tab or closure flap I2 is a cut out portion 20, While in the reinforcement portion in engagement with the portion ll of the envelope i a cut out portion 2!. The cut out portion 20 has par allel sides defining an opening less in width than the distance between the limits defined by the curved members N5 of the locking tongue l5. The cut out portion 2| has rounded ends defining a space of a width less than the distance between the rounded projections i! of the locking tongue I 15.

In operating the locking device, the flap or tab I2 is folded over on the weakened line l3 so as to overlap the portion ll] of the envelope (see Fig. 2). The locking tongue is threaded through the cut out 20 so as to bring the curved portions l6 thereof into overlapping position outside the portion l0 (see Fig. 3) to establish a lock in this region of the structure, after which the projecting portions ll thereof are placed under and in looking-position with respect to the curved portions 2! in that portion of the cut out 20 lying in the portion H of the envelope to establish another look in this region of the structure.

When th'us assembled, the two portions IE! and II of the envelope, and the closing flap or tab l2, lie closely in engagement, with no projecting parts, and in practically a single plane.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the drawing, it will be evident that the tongue is doubly locked in position and will remain so locked in service.

To unlock the parts, it is simply necessary to release the portions I! and I6, respectively, from their engagement with the parts of the structure with which they are interlocked, th'ereby freeing the tongue so that it may be withdrawn from the cut out 20 of the flap l2.

While I have described and illustrated a preferred embodiment of my invention, I recognize that many minor changes may be made in its construction and design without departing from its essential features as defined in the appended carries said flap, said reinforcing :material and flap and envelope wall having a portion thereof cut out to form an opening, said opening in the flap having its end remote fromthe mouth of the envelope substantially rectangular and having the sides thereof substantially parallel to each other, the end of said opening adjacent to the mouth of the envelope having formed at each end of the rectangular cut-out a pair of substantially semi-circular outwardly extending cut-outs, and in the wall of the envelope a substantially oval cut-out, the ends of such latter cut out extending outwardly beyond the limits of the semicircular cut-outs in the flap, a reinforcing sheet adhesively secured to the inner face-of the other wallof'the envelope, a tongue formed in said reinforcing sheet and in the upper end of the other wall of the envelope, said tongue having at its outer :or free end a substantially oval member, the width of such member being greater than the width of the-space between the'outer limits of the space definedbythe semi-circular cut-outs in the flap, said tongue having formed adjacent the oval member thereof outwardly extending members, the width of the *tongue between the outer ends of the latter members being greater than the width between the parallel sides of the cut-out in the flap, and said tongue being integrally attached at its base to such other wall of the envelope whereby when the flap is foldedover into overlapping engagement with such other wall of the envelope and the tongue threaded through the rectangular cut-out, the ends of the substantially ovatmember o'fthe tongue may be tucked through the substantially oval cut-iout in the flap and-under thematerial of the flap adjacent thereto toestablish-a double lockjor the envelope.

2. A-double-walled envelope having a flap on one wall to be overiolded and locked against the opposite wall, said flap and its wall having a portion thereof out "out to form an opening, said opening in the flap having its end remote from the mouth of the envelope substantially rectangular and having the sides thereof substantially parallel to eachother, the end of said opening adjacent to the mouth of "the envelope having formed at each end of the rectangular cut-out a pair of substantially semi-circular outwardly extending cut-outs, and in the wall of the envelope a substantially oval cut-out, the ends of such latter cut-out extending outwardly beyond the limits of the semi-circular cut-outs in the flap, a tongue formed upon the upper end of the other wall of the envelope, said tongue having at its outer 'or free end a substantially oval member, the Width of such member being greater than the width of the space between the outer limits of the space defined by the semi-circular cut-outs in the flap, said tongue having formed adjacent the oval member thereof outwardly extending members, the width of the tongue between the outer ends of the latter members being greater than the width between the parallel sides of the cut-out in the flap, and said tongue being integrally attached at its base to such other wall of the envelope whereby when the flap is folded over into overlappingengagement with such other wall of :the envelope and the tongue threaded through the rectangular cut-out, the ends :of the substantially oval member of the tongue may be tucked through the substantially oval cut-out in the flap and under the material of the flap adjacent thereto to establish a double lock for the envelope.

3. An improved locking device for envelopes or other like closures, comprising :a cut out portion formed as a unit in a'wall of the envelope and in the closing flap therefor, and a tongue formed of a part of anopposite wall of theenvelope, said tongue and cut out portion interlocking t firmly lock the envelope in closed position when the flap is overfolded upon said opposite wall of the envelope, the cutout in the flap being substantially rectangular and the cut out in the Wall of the envelope which carries said flap being substantially .oval, and the tongue having a rounded portion wider than the rectangular out out and having an oval portion wider than the oval cut outand which portions establish a double locking engagement with said cut outs when the flap is overiolded and the tongue inserted through said cut outs.

THOMAS WALSH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,741,52'7' 'Lac'key Dec. 31, 1929 1,944,151 Butterfield et al. Jan. 23, 1934 1,670,647 Alter May 22, 1928 

